Digitally controlled delay line circuit and method

ABSTRACT

A digitally controlled delay line (DCDL) includes an input terminal, an output terminal, and a plurality of stages configured to propagate a signal along a first signal path from the input terminal to a selectable return stage of the plurality of stages, and along a second signal path from the return stage of the plurality of stages to the output terminal. Each stage of the plurality of stages includes first and second inverters configured to selectively propagate the signal along the first signal path, third and fourth inverters configured to selectively propagate the signal along the second signal path, and a fifth inverter configured to selectively propagate the signal from the first signal path to the second signal path.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims the priority of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/012,980, filed Apr. 21, 2020, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Delay lines, including digitally controlled delay lines (DCDL) provideprogrammable delay times for an input signal routed through cascadeddelay stages. DCDL circuits are implemented using delay stagesconfigurable via control signals to cause the input signal to eitherpass to the next delay stage or be propagated to a return path. Toobtain a given delay time, a predetermined number of cascaded delaystages is activated to provide the forward and return paths for theinput signal.

In some cases, DCDLs are included in delay-locked loop (DLL) circuits inwhich the programmable delay times are used to synchronize clocksignals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the followingdetailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It isnoted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry,various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of thevarious features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity ofdiscussion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DCDL circuit, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a DCDL circuit, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a DCDL circuit, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an inverter, in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a tunable inverter, in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a signal delay time, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a representation of DCDL circuit operating parameters, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams of tunable inverters, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9D are schematic diagrams of DCDL circuits, in accordance withsome embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of controlling a signal delay time,in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a DLL circuit, in accordance with someembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, orexamples, for implementing different features of the provided subjectmatter. Specific examples of components, values, operations, materials,arrangements, or the like, are described below to simplify the presentdisclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intendedto be limiting. Other components, values, operations, materials,arrangements, or the like, are contemplated. For example, the formationof a first feature over or on a second feature in the description thatfollows may include embodiments in which the first and second featuresare formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in whichadditional features may be formed between the first and second features,such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Inaddition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/orletters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose ofsimplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationshipbetween the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,”“above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatiallyrelative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of thedevice in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted inthe figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degreesor at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors usedherein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

In various embodiments, a DCDL receives a given one of a rising orfalling signal transition, and is configurable to cause each signal pathcorresponding to a range of programmable delay times to include atunable delay cell that receives the given signal transition. By alwaysincluding a tunable delay cell that receives the same signal transitionpolarity within the range of programmable delay times, the DCDL iscapable of improved delay time control compared to approaches in whicheach signal path does not include a tunable delay cell that receives thesame signal transition, thereby increasing delay time linearity.

In some embodiments, a DCDL includes single-sided tunable delay cellsconfigured to implement programmable delay times for a given one of arising or falling signal transition by using fewer transistors thanapproaches in which tunable delay cells are configured to implementprogrammable delay times for both rising and falling signal transitions,thereby reducing circuit size, complexity, and process variationeffects.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a DCDL circuit 100, in accordance withsome embodiments. DCDL circuit 100, also referred to as DCDL 100 in someembodiments, is an integrated circuit (IC) including an input terminalIN, an output terminal OUT, stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, a control circuit120, and a control signal bus CTRL. In various embodiments, DCDL circuit100 includes one or more of an input buffer VBI, an output buffer VBO,or a return inverter VR, as discussed below. In some embodiments, DCDLcircuit 100 is a portion of another circuit, e.g., a DLL circuit 1100discussed below with respect to FIG. 11.

Stage 110-1 is coupled to each of input terminal IN and output terminalOUT, stages 110-1 . . . 110-N are sequentially coupled to each other ina cascade configuration, and each of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N is coupledto control circuit 120 through control signal bus CTRL. Stages 110-1 . .. 110-N are thereby configured as first through Nth sequentially coupledstages coupled to input terminal IN and output terminal OUT.

Two or more circuit elements are considered to be coupled based on adirect electrical connection or a conductive path that includes one ormore additional circuit elements, e.g., one or more switching devices orlogic or transmission gates, and is thereby capable of being controlled,e.g., made resistive or open by a transistor or other switching device.

In some embodiments, a DCDL circuit, e.g., DCDL circuit 100, includes anumber N of stages, e.g., stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, ranging from 16 to128. In some embodiments, a DCDL circuit, e.g., DCDL circuit 100,includes a number N of stages, e.g., stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, rangingfrom 32 to 64. In some embodiments, a DCDL circuit, e.g., DCDL circuit100, includes a number N of stages, e.g., stages 110-1 . . . 110-N,fewer than 16 or greater than 128.

DCDL circuit 100 is configured to receive a signal SI at input terminalIN, and stages 110-1 . . . 110-N are configured to return a signal SO atoutput terminal OUT by applying a programmable delay time to signal SIresponsive to control signals SCTRL received on control signal bus CTRLand generated by control circuit 120. Input terminal IN along withselectable portions of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N are thereby configuredas an input path PI, and selectable portions of stages 110-1 . . . 110-Nalong with output terminal OUT are thereby configured as an output pathPO.

A stage, e.g., one of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, also referred to as adelay stage in some embodiments, is an electronic circuit including aplurality of cells, e.g., inverters, configurable responsive to aplurality of control signals, e.g., control signals SCTRL, so as toeither selectively activate at least one cell coupled between input pathPI and output path PO, or selectively activate at least one cell ininput path PI coupled to a next sequentially coupled stage and at leastone cell in output path PO coupled to the next sequentially coupledstage.

Each of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N includes a node NI and inverters V1 andV2 coupled in series along input path PI, a node NO and inverters V4 andV5 coupled in series along output path PO, and a tunable inverter V3coupled between input path PI and output path PO at respective nodes NIand NO.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, tunable inverter V3 is coupled toinput path PI at node NI between input terminal IN and inverters V1 andV2, and coupled to output path PO at node NO between output terminal OUTand inverters V4 and V5. In some embodiments, tunable inverter V3 iscoupled to input path PI at node NI between inverters V1 and V2, andcoupled to output path PO at node NO between inverters V4 and V5. Insome embodiments, tunable inverter V3 is coupled to input path PI atnode NI such that inverters V1 and V2 are between input terminal IN andnode NI, and coupled to output path PO at node NO such that inverters V4and V5 are between output terminal OUT and node NO.

Each of inverters V1, V2, V4, and V5, also referred to as a coarse-tunedelay cell in some embodiments, is a tristate inverter configured tohave either an activated or inactivated state responsive to one or moreof control signals SCTRL received on control signal bus CTRL. In theactivated state, a tri state inverter, e.g., an inverter V1, V2, V4, orV5, is configured to generate an output signal complementary to areceived input signal and having a delay time between a transition inthe input signal and the resultant transition in the output signal, thedelay time being controlled by a switching speed of the inverter. In theinactivated state, the tristate inverter, e.g., an inverter V1, V2, V4,or V5, is configured to have a high output impedance independent of thereceived input signal.

The high output impedance of the inactivated state corresponds to afirst output state of the tristate inverter, the output signal having ahigh voltage level in response to the input signal having a low voltagelevel corresponds to a second output state, and the output signal havingthe low voltage level in response to the input signal having the highvoltage level corresponds to a third output state.

In some embodiments, a tristate inverter, e.g., an inverter V1, V2, V4,or V5, includes a plurality of p-type and n-type transistors coupled inseries between a power supply node and a reference, e.g., ground, node(not shown in FIG. 1), and is thereby configured to, in operation, havethe inactivated state corresponding to a first complementary pair oftransistors (not shown in FIG. 1) being switched off in response to thecontrol signals, to have the activated state corresponding to the firstcomplementary pair of transistors being switched on in response to thecontrol signals, and to output the output signal in response toreceiving the input signal at gates of a second complementary pair oftransistors. In some embodiments, one or more of inverters V1, V2, V4,or V5 is tristate inverter 400 discussed below with respect to FIG. 4.

Tunable inverter V3, also referred to as a fine-tune delay cell in someembodiments, is an inverter configured to have either the inactivatedstate or one of a plurality of activated states responsive to one ormore of control signals SCTRL received on control signal bus CTRL. Ineach of the pluralities of activated states, a tunable inverter, e.g.,tunable inverter V3, is configured to generate an output signalcomplementary to a received input signal and having a switching speedcorresponding to a selected one of the pluralities of activated states.The switching speed corresponding to the selected activated statecontrols a delay time between a transition in the input signal and theresultant transition in the output signal such that the tunable inverterhas a plurality of delay times corresponding to the plurality ofactivated states.

The high output impedance of the inactivated state corresponds to afirst output state of the tunable inverter, the output signal having thehigh voltage level and a first switching speed in response to the inputsignal having the low voltage level corresponds to a second outputstate, the output signal having the low voltage level and firstswitching speed in response to the input signal having the high voltagelevel corresponds to a third output state, and the output signal havingthe high or low voltage level and at least one additional switchingspeed in response to the input signal having the respective low or highvoltage level corresponds to the tunable inverter having greater thanthree output states.

In some embodiments, a tunable inverter, e.g., tunable inverter V3,includes a plurality of p-type and n-type transistors configured asdiscussed above with respect to a tristate inverter, and furtherincludes at least one additional p-type or n-type transistor arranged inparallel with a same type transistor of the plurality of p-type andn-type transistors. The tunable inverter is thereby configured to, inoperation, have the plurality of activated states corresponding tocombinations of the parallel transistors being switched on and off inresponse to the control signals. In various embodiments, tunableinverter V3 is a tunable inverter 500 discussed below with respect toFIG. 5 or one of tunable inverters 800A or 800B discussed below withrespect to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

Control circuit 120 is an electronic circuit configured to generate andoutput control signals SCTRL configured to cause tunable inverter V3 ofan nth stage 110-n (any one of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N) to have apredetermined one of the activated states, and tunable inverters V3 ofeach of the other stages 110-1 . . . 110-N to have the inactive state,thereby selecting stage 110-n as a return stage by which signal SI oninput path PI is propagated to output path PO and generating signal SO,in operation. In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 100 includes a returninverter VR, and control circuit 120 is configured to generate andoutput control signals SCTRL alternatively configured to cause tunableinverters V3 of each of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N to have the inactivestate, thereby causing return inverter VR to propagate signal SI frominput path PI to output path PO and generating signal SO, in operation.

Control circuit 120 is configured to generate and output control signalsSCTRL configured to further cause each inverter V1 and V2 between inputterminal IN and node NI of the selected return stage (or return inverterVR) and each inverter V4 and V5 between output terminal OUT and node NOof the selected return stage (or return inverter VR) to have the activestate. In various embodiments, for a given one of stages 110-1 . . .110-N, inverters V1 and V2 are configured to receive a same set ofcontrol signals SCTRL or different sets of control signals SCTRL, andinverters V4 and V5 are configured to receive a same set of controlsignals SCTRL or different sets of control signals SCTRL.

In operation, the activated inverters V1 and V2 between input terminalIN and node NI of the selected return stage (or return inverter VR) arethereby configured as some or all of input path PI, and the activatedinverters V4 and V5 between node NO of the selected return stage (orreturn inverter VR) and output terminal OUT are thereby configured assome or all of output path PO. Input path PI, tunable inverter V3 of theselected return stage, and output path PO are thereby configured as asignal delay path of DCDL 100.

In operation, unless stage 110-1 as depicted in FIG. 1 is selected asthe return stage, inverter V1 of stage 110-1 receives a transition insignal SI at node NI and propagates the received transition along inputpath PI to inverter V2 of stage 110-1 as an inverted transition delayedby the delay time of inverter V1. In turn, inverter V2 propagates thereceived transition in signal SI along input path PI to node NI of stage110-2 as an inverted transition delayed by the delay time of inverterV2. This propagation sequence is repeated for each activated inverter V1and V2 along input path PI.

Tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage (or return inverter VR)receives the final transition in signal SI at node NI on input path PI,and propagates the final transition to node NO of output path PO as aninverted transition delayed by the delay time of tunable inverter V3corresponding to the predetermined one of the active states determinedby control signals SCTRL (or a delay time of return inverter VR).

In a sequence analogous to that of input path PI, the invertedtransition from tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage ispropagated along output path PO by each activated inverter V4 and V5along output path PO as an inverted transition delayed by the delay timeof the corresponding inverter V4 or V5.

In operation, signal SO is thereby generated on output terminal OUTincluding a transition delayed relative to the transition in signal SIby a total delay time based on a sum of the delay times of each ofinverters V1 and V2 in input path PI, each of inverters V4 and V5 inoutput path PO, and tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage. Insome embodiments in which DCDL circuit 100 includes return inverter VRand a stage 110-1 . . . 110-N is not selected as a return stage, thetotal delay time is based on a sum of the delay times of each ofinverters V1 and V2 in input path PI, the delay times of each ofinverters V4 and V5 in output path PO, and the delay time of returninverter VR.

In operation, the transition in signal SO has a polarity relative to thetransition in signal SI based on a total number of inverters included ininput path PI, output path PO, and either tunable inverter V3 of theselected return stage or return inverter VR in some embodiments. Thus,an odd total number of inverters corresponds to signal SO having atransition polarity opposite that of signal SI, and an even total numberof inverters corresponds to signal SO having a same transition polarityas that of signal SI.

In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 100 includes neither input buffer VBInor output buffer VBO, and the total number of inverters is an oddnumber equal to the sum of the number of inverters V1 and V2 included ininput path PI, the number of inverters V4 and V5 included in output pathPO, plus one inverter being either tunable inverter V3 of the selectedreturn stage or return inverter VR. In operation, in such embodiments, atransition in signal SI received at input terminal IN having a givenpolarity thereby causes signal SO at output terminal OUT to have atransition having the opposite polarity and delayed by a total delaytime equal to the sum of the delay times of each of inverters V1 and V2in input path PI, each of inverters V4 and V5 in output path PO, andtunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage or return inverter VR.

In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 100 includes one of input buffer VBIor output buffer VBO, and the total number of inverters is an evennumber equal to the sum of the number of inverters V1 and V2 included ininput path PI, the number of inverters V4 and V5 included in output pathPO, one inverter being either tunable inverter V3 of the selected returnstage or return inverter VR, plus the one of input buffer VBI or outputbuffer VBO. In operation, in such embodiments, a transition in signal SIreceived at input terminal IN having a given polarity thereby causessignal SO at output terminal OUT to have a transition having the samepolarity and delayed by a total delay time equal to the sum of the delaytimes of each of inverters V1 and V2 in input path PI, the delay timesof each of inverters V4 and V5 in output path PO, the delay time ofeither tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage or returninverter VR, plus a delay time of either input buffer VBI in input pathPI or output buffer VBO in output path PO.

In operation, the delay time of an inverter, e.g., one of inverters V1,V2, V4, or V5 or tunable inverter V3, is based on the switching speed ofone or more n-type transistors when generating a falling output signaltransition in response to a rising input signal transition, and on theswitching speed of one or more p-type transistors when generating arising output signal transition in response to a falling input signaltransition. Accordingly, in the case of tunable inverter V3, control ofthe plurality of delay times is based on switching speeds of a pluralityof n-type transistors when responding to the rising input signaltransition or switching speeds of a plurality of p-type transistors whenresponding to the falling input signal transition.

By the configuration discussed above, tunable inverter V3 of each ofstages 110-1 . . . 110-N of DCDL circuit 100 is configured to receive aninput signal having a same transition polarity. For each programmabledelay time of DCDL circuit 100 based on a selected return stage, controlof the delay time component contributed by the corresponding tunableinverter V3 is therefore based on switching speeds of a plurality oftransistors being same type transistors.

Transistor switching speeds vary as a function of manufacturing processvariations such that switching speed variations among same typetransistors are often smaller than switching speed variations betweendifferent type transistors. By configuring each programmable delay timeto be based on a tunable inverter V3 having a delay time based on sametransistor switching speeds, DCDL circuit 100 is capable of havingimproved delay time control, and thereby increased delay time linearity,compared to approaches in which each programmable delay time is notbased on same transistor switching speeds.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a DCDL circuit 200, in accordance withsome embodiments. DCDL circuit 200, also referred to as DCDL 200 in someembodiments, is an integrated circuit (IC) including input terminal IN,output terminal OUT, control circuit 120, and control signal bus CTRL,each discussed above with respect to FIG. 1. Instead of stages 110-1 . .. 110-N and return inverter VR, DCDL circuit 200 includes stages 210-1 .. . 210-N and, in some embodiments, a return path PR. In variousembodiments, DCDL circuit 200 includes one of input buffer VBI or outputbuffer VBO, each discussed above with respect to FIG. 1. In someembodiments, DCDL circuit 200 is a portion of another circuit, e.g., DLLcircuit 1100 discussed below with respect to FIG. 11.

Stages 210-1 . . . 210-N of DCDL circuit 200 are arranged in the mannerdiscussed above with respect to FIG. 1, and DCDL 200 is therebyconfigured to receive signal SI at input terminal IN, and stages 210-1 .. . 210-N are configured to return signal SO at output terminal OUT byapplying a programmable delay time to signal SI responsive to controlsignals SCTRL received on control signal bus CTRL and generated bycontrol circuit 120. Input terminal IN along with selectable portions ofstages 210-1 . . . 210-N are thereby configured as input path PI, andselectable portions of stages 210-1 . . . 210-N along with outputterminal OUT are thereby configured as output path PO.

Each of stages 210-1 . . . 210-N includes nodes NI and NO, inverters V1and V5, and tunable inverter V3, each discussed above with respect toFIG. 1. Compared to stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, each of stages 210-1 . . .210-N does not include inverter V2 in series with inverter V1, orinverter V4 in series with inverter V5, and instead includes a tunableinverter V6 coupled in series with tunable inverter V3 at a node NSbetween node NI and node NO. In some embodiments, tunable inverter V6 istunable inverter 500 discussed below with respect to FIG. 5 or one oftunable inverters 800A or 800B discussed below with respect to FIGS. 8Aand 8B.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, tunable inverter V3 is coupled toinput path PI at node NI between input terminal IN and inverter V1, andtunable inverter V6 is coupled to output path PO at node NO betweenoutput terminal OUT and inverter V5. In some embodiments, tunableinverter V3 is coupled to input path PI at node NI such that inverter V1is between input terminal IN and node NI, and tunable inverter V6 iscoupled to output path PO at node NO such that inverter V5 is betweenoutput terminal OUT and node NO.

In the manner discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, DCDL circuit 200including control circuit 120 is configured to select an nth stage ofstages 210-1 . . . 210-N as a return stage while activating eachinverter V1 between input terminal IN and node NI of the selected returnstage, and each inverter V5 between the selected return stage and outputterminal OUT, thereby configuring a signal delay path including inputpath PI including the activated inverters V1, the return path includingtunable inverters V3 and V6, and output path PO including the activatedinverters V5, in operation.

In operation, unless stage 210-1 as depicted in FIG. 2 is selected asthe return stage, inverter V1 of stage 210-1 receives a transition insignal SI at node NI and propagates the received transition along inputpath PI to node NI of stage 210-2 as an inverted transition delayed bythe delay time of inverter V1. This propagation sequence is repeated foreach activated inverter V1 along input path PI.

Tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage receives the finaltransition in signal SI at node NI on input path PI, and propagates thefinal transition to the corresponding tunable inverter V6 at node NS asan inverted transition delayed by the delay time of tunable inverter V3,and the corresponding tunable inverter V6 propagates the invertedtransition received from node NS to node NO of output path PO as afurther inverted transition delayed by the delay time of tunableinverter V6. In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 200 is configured toselect return path PR by activating inverters V1 and V5 of each ofstages 210-1 . . . 210-N, in which case signal SI is directly propagatedfrom input path PI to signal SO on output path PO without being delayedby the delay times of tunable inverters V3 and V6, in operation.

The delay times of tunable inverters V3 and V6 of the selected returnstage correspond to the predetermined one of the active statesdetermined by control signals SCTRL. In various embodiments, tunableinverters V3 and V6 of each of stages 210-1 . . . 210-N are configuredto receive a same set of control signals SCTRL or different sets ofcontrol signals SCTRL.

In turn, the inverted transition from tunable inverter V6 of theselected return stage is propagated along output path PO by eachactivated inverter V5 along output path PO as an inverted transitiondelayed by the delay time of the corresponding inverter V5.

In operation, signal SO is thereby generated on output terminal OUTincluding a transition delayed relative to the transition in signal SIby a total delay time based on a sum of the delay times of each ofinverters V1 in input path PI, each of inverters V5 in output path PO,and tunable inverters V3 and V6 of the selected return stage. In someembodiments in which DCDL circuit 100 includes return path PR and astage 110-1 . . . 110-N is not selected as a return stage, the totaldelay time is based on a sum of the delay times of each of inverters V1in input path PI, and the delay times of each of inverters V5 in outputpath PO.

In operation, the transition in signal SO has a polarity relative to thetransition in signal SI based on a total number of inverters included ininput path PI, output path PO, and tunable inverters V3 and V6 of theselected return stage such that an odd total number of inverterscorresponds to signal SO having a transition polarity opposite that ofsignal SI, and an even total number of inverters corresponds to signalSO having a same transition polarity as that of signal SI.

In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 100 includes neither input buffer VBInor output buffer VBO, and the total number of inverters is an evennumber equal to the sum of the number of inverters V1 included in inputpath PI, the number of inverters V5 included in output path PO, plustunable inverters V3 and V6 of the selected return stage. In operation,in such embodiments, a transition in signal SI received at inputterminal IN having a given polarity thereby causes signal SO at outputterminal OUT to have a transition having the same polarity and delayedby a total delay time equal to the sum of the delay times of each ofinverters V1 in input path PI, each of inverters V5 in output path PO,and tunable inverters V3 and V6 of the selected return stage.

In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 100 includes one of input buffer VBIor output buffer VBO, and the total number of inverters is an odd numberequal to the sum of the number of inverters V1 included in input pathPI, the number of inverters V5 included in output path PO, tunableinverters V3 and V6 of the selected return stage, plus the one of inputbuffer VBI or output buffer VBO. In operation, in such embodiments, atransition in signal SI received at input terminal IN having a givenpolarity thereby causes signal SO at output terminal OUT to have atransition having the opposite polarity and delayed by a total delaytime equal to the sum of the delay times of each of inverters V1 ininput path PI, the delay times of each of inverters V5 in output pathPO, the delay times of tunable inverters V3 and V6 of the selectedreturn stage, plus the delay time of either input buffer VBI in inputpath PI or output buffer VBO in output path PO.

By the configuration discussed above, tunable inverters V3 and V6 ofeach of stages 210-1 . . . 210-N of DCDL circuit 200 are configured tocollectively receive input signals having both transition polarities.For each programmable delay time of DCDL circuit 200 based on a selectedreturn stage, control of the delay time component contributed by thecorresponding tunable inverters V3 and V6 is therefore based onswitching speeds of a first plurality of p-type transistors and a secondplurality of n-type transistors.

By configuring each programmable delay time to be based on tunableinverters V3 and V6 having delay times based on switching speeds of eachtransistor type, DCDL circuit 200 is capable of having improved delaytime control, and thereby increased delay time linearity, compared toapproaches in which each programmable delay time is not based onswitching speeds of each transistor type.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a DCDL circuit 300, in accordance withsome embodiments. DCDL circuit 300, also referred to as DCDL 300 in someembodiments, is an integrated circuit (IC) including input terminal IN,output terminal OUT, control circuit 120, control signal bus CTRL, andreturn inverter VR, each discussed above with respect to FIG. 1. Insteadof stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, DCDL circuit 300 includes stages 310-1 . .. 310-N. In various embodiments, DCDL circuit 300 includes one of inputbuffer VBI or output buffer VBO, each discussed above with respect toFIG. 1. In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 300 is a portion of anothercircuit, e.g., DLL circuit 1100 discussed below with respect to FIG. 11.

Stages 310-1 . . . 310-N of DCDL circuit 300 are arranged in the mannerdiscussed above with respect to FIG. 1, and DCDL 300 is therebyconfigured to receive signal SI at input terminal IN, and stages 310-1 .. . 310-N are configured to return signal SO at output terminal OUT byapplying a programmable delay time to signal SI responsive to controlsignals SCTRL received on control signal bus CTRL and generated bycontrol circuit 120. Input terminal IN along with selectable portions ofstages 310-1 . . . 310-N are thereby configured as input path PI, andselectable portions of stages 310-1 . . . 310-N along with outputterminal OUT are thereby configured as output path PO.

Each of stages 310-1 . . . 310-N includes nodes NI and NO, inverter V5,and tunable inverter V3, each discussed above with respect to FIG. 1.Compared to stages 110-1 . . . 110-N, each of stages 310-1 . . . 310-Ndoes not include inverter V4 in series with inverter V5, and includes atunable inverter V7 instead of inverters V1 and V2. In some embodiments,tunable inverter V7 is tunable inverter 500 discussed below with respectto FIG. 5 or one of tunable inverters 800A or 800B discussed below withrespect to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, tunable inverter V3 is coupled toinput path PI at node NI between input terminal IN and tunable inverterV7, and coupled to output path PO at node NO between output terminal OUTand inverter V5. In some embodiments, tunable inverter V3 is coupled toinput path PI at node NI such that tunable inverter V7 is between inputterminal IN and node NI, and coupled to output path PO at node NO suchthat inverter V5 is between output terminal OUT and node NO.

In the manner discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, DCDL circuit 300including control circuit 120 is configured to select an nth stage ofstages 310-1 . . . 310-N as a return stage (or return inverter VR insome embodiments) while activating each tunable inverter V7 betweeninput terminal IN and node NI of the selected return stage, and eachinverter V5 between the selected return stage and output terminal OUT,thereby configuring a signal delay path including input path PIincluding the activated tunable inverters V7, the return path includingtunable inverter V3 (or return inverter VR), and output path POincluding the activated inverters V5, in operation.

In operation, unless stage 310-1 as depicted in FIG. 3 is selected asthe return stage, tunable inverter V7 of stage 310-1 receives atransition in signal SI at node NI and propagates the receivedtransition along input path PI to node NI of stage 310-2 as an invertedtransition delayed by the delay time of tunable inverter V7. Thispropagation sequence is repeated for each activated tunable inverter V7along input path PI.

Tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage (or return inverter VR)receives the final transition in signal SI at node NI on input path PI,and propagates the final transition to node NO of output path PO as aninverted transition delayed by the delay time of tunable inverter V3.

The delay times of tunable inverters V7 of input path PI and tunableinverter V3 of the selected return stage correspond to predeterminedones of the active states determined by control signals SCTRL (or adelay time of return inverter VR instead of that of tunable inverterV3).

In turn, the inverted transition from tunable inverter V3 of theselected return stage is propagated along output path PO by eachactivated inverter V5 along output path PO as an inverted transitiondelayed by the delay time of the corresponding inverter V5.

In operation, signal SO is thereby generated on output terminal OUTincluding a transition delayed relative to the transition in signal SIby a total delay time based on a sum of the delay times of each oftunable inverters V7 in input path PI, each of inverters V5 in outputpath PO, and tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage (or returninverter VR). The transition in signal SO has a polarity relative to thetransition in signal SI based on a total number of inverters included ininput path PI, output path PO, and tunable inverter V3 of the selectedreturn stage (or return inverter VR) such that an odd total number ofinverters corresponds to signal SO having a transition polarity oppositethat of signal SI, and an even total number of inverters corresponds tosignal SO having a same transition polarity as that of signal SI.

In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 300 includes neither input buffer VBInor output buffer VBO, and the total number of inverters is an oddnumber equal to the sum of the number of tunable inverters V7 includedin input path PI, the number of inverters V5 included in output path PO,plus tunable inverter V3 selected return stage (or return inverter VR).In operation, in such embodiments, a transition in signal SI received atinput terminal IN having a given polarity thereby causes signal SO atoutput terminal OUT to have a transition having the opposite polarityand delayed by a total delay time equal to the sum of the delay times ofeach of tunable inverters V7 in input path PI, each of inverters V5 inoutput path PO, and tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage (orreturn inverter VR).

In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 300 includes one of input buffer VBIor output buffer VBO, and the total number of inverters is an evennumber equal to the sum of the number of tunable inverters V7 includedin input path PI, the number of inverters V5 included in output path PO,tunable inverter V3 of the selected return stage (or return inverterVR), plus the one of input buffer VBI or output buffer VBO. Inoperation, in such embodiments, a transition in signal SI received atinput terminal IN having a given polarity thereby causes signal SO atoutput terminal OUT to have a transition having the same polarity anddelayed by a total delay time equal to the sum of the delay times ofeach of tunable inverters V7 in input path PI, the delay times of eachof inverters V5 in output path PO, the delay time of tunable inverter V3of the selected return stage (or return inverter VR), plus the delaytime of either input buffer VBI in input path PI or output buffer VBO inoutput path PO.

By the configuration discussed above, tunable inverter V3 of each ofstages 310-2 . . . 310-N of DCDL circuit 300 and tunable inverter V7 ofeach corresponding sequentially coupled stage 310-1 . . . 310-N−1 areconfigured to collectively receive input signals having both transitionpolarities. For each programmable delay time of DCDL circuit 300 basedon a return stage selected from stages 310-2 . . . 310-N, control of thedelay time component contributed by the corresponding tunable invertersV3 and V7 is therefore based on switching speeds of a first plurality ofp-type transistors and a second plurality of n-type transistors.

By configuring each programmable delay time within a range correspondingto stages 310-2 . . . 310-N to be based on tunable inverters V3 and V6having delay times based on switching speeds of each transistor type,DCDL circuit 300 is capable of having improved delay time control, andthereby increased delay time linearity, compared to approaches in whicheach programmable delay time within a corresponding range is not basedon switching speeds of each transistor type.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of tristate inverter 400, in accordancewith some embodiments. Tristate inverter 400 is usable as one or more ofinverters V1, V2, V4, or V5 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3and below with respect to FIGS. 9A-9D.

Tristate inverter 400 includes a power supply node VDD configured tocarry a power supply voltage (not labeled), a reference node VSSconfigured to carry a reference, e.g., ground, voltage (not labeled), acomplementary transistor pair PS/NS, and a complementary transistor pairP1/N1.

P-type transistor PS is coupled to power supply node VDD, n-typetransistor NS is coupled to reference node VSS, and a gate of each oftransistors PS and NS is coupled to an input terminal 4001 configured toreceive an input signal 40051.

P-type transistor P1 and n-type transistor N1 are coupled in seriesbetween complementary transistor pair PS/NS, a gate of each oftransistors P1 and N1 is coupled to control signal bus CTRL discussedabove with respect to FIG. 1, and source terminals of transistors P1 andN1 are coupled together at an output terminal 4000. The gate oftransistor P1 is configured to receive a control signal SC1 and the gateof transistor N1 is configured to receive a control signal SC1 bcomplementary to control signal SC1, control signals SC1 and SC1 b beinga set of control signals SCTRL generated by control circuit 120,discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3.

In operation, transistors P1 and N1 are thereby configured to beswitched off in response to control signal SC1 having the high voltagelevel and control signal SC1 b having the low voltage level,corresponding to the inactivated state of tristate inverter 400discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3. In response to control signalSC1 having the low voltage level and control signal SC1 b having thehigh voltage level, transistors P1 and N1 are switched on in operation,corresponding to the activated state discussed above in which tristateinverter 400 is configured to generate output signal 400SO on outputnode 4000 complementary to input signal 40051 and having a delay timecorresponding to switching speeds of transistors PS, P1, NS, and N1.

A DCDL circuit 100-300 or 900A-900D including tristate inverter 400 asdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3 and below with respect toFIGS. 9A-9D, is thereby capable generating a total delay time includingthe tristate inverter 400 delay time having the benefits discussed abovewith respect to DCDL circuits 100-300 and below with respect to DCDLcircuits 900A-900D.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of tunable inverter 500, in accordancewith some embodiments. Tunable inverter 500 is usable as one or more oftunable inverters V3, V6, or V7 discussed above with respect to FIGS.1-3.

Tunable inverter 500 includes power supply node VDD, reference node VSS,and complementary transistor pairs PS/NS and P1/N1 arranged as discussedabove with respect to FIG. 4. A gate of each of transistors PS and NS iscoupled to an input terminal 5001 configured to receive an input signal50051, and source terminals of transistors P1 and N1 are coupled to anoutput terminal 5000.

Transistor P1 is one p-type transistor of a number K of p-typetransistors P1-PK arranged in parallel in a tuning portion 500TP andtransistor N1 is one n-type transistor of the number K of n-typetransistors N1-NK arranged in parallel in tuning portion 500TP. Gates ofeach of transistors P1-PK and N1-NK are coupled to control signal busCTRL discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-4, transistors P1-PK arethereby configured to receive control signals SF1-SFK, and transistorsN1-NK are thereby configured to receive control signals SF1 b-SFKbcomplementary to respective control signals SF1-SFK, control signalsSF1-SFK and SF1 b-SFKb being a set of control signals SCTRL generated bycontrol circuit 120, discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-4.

In various embodiments, the number K is equal to two such that tunableinverter 500 includes totals of two p-type and two n-type transistors intuning portion 500TP, the number K is equal to three such that tunableinverter 500 includes totals of three p-type and three n-typetransistors in tuning portion 500TP, or the number K is greater thanthree such that tunable inverter 500 includes totals of more than threeof each of p-type transistors and n-type transistors in tuning portion500TP.

In operation, pairs of transistors P1-PK and corresponding transistorsN1-NK are thereby configured to be switched off in response to thecorresponding control signal SF1-SFK having a high voltage level andcorresponding control signal SF1 b-SFKb having a low voltage level,corresponding to the inactivated state of a tunable inverter discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-4. In response to a given one of controlsignals SF1-SFK having the low voltage level and the correspondingcontrol signal SF1 b-SFKb having the high voltage level, thecorresponding transistor pair of transistors P1-PK and N1-NK areswitched on in operation. Varying combinations of control signalsSF1-SFK having the low voltage level and corresponding control signalsSF1 b-SFKb having the high voltage level thereby correspond to theplurality of activated states discussed above in which tunable inverter500 is configured to generate output signal 500SO on output node 5000complementary to input signal 500SI and having delay times correspondingto switching speeds of some or all of pairs of transistors P1-PK andN1-NK.

A DCDL circuit 100-300 including tunable inverter 500 as discussed abovewith respect to FIGS. 1-3 is thereby capable generating a total delaytime including the plurality of tunable inverter 500 delay times havingthe benefits discussed above with respect to DCDL circuits 100-300.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method 600 of controlling a signal delaytime, in accordance with one or more embodiments. Method 600 is usablewith a DCDL circuit, e.g., a DCDL circuit 100-300 discussed above withrespect to respective FIGS. 1-3.

The sequence in which the operations of method 600 are depicted in FIG.6 is for illustration only; the operations of method 600 are capable ofbeing executed in sequences that differ from that depicted in FIG. 6. Insome embodiments, operations in addition to those depicted in FIG. 6 areperformed before, between, during, and/or after the operations depictedin FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the operations of method 600 are part ofoperating a circuit, e.g., DLL circuit 1100 discussed below with respectto FIG. 11.

At operation 610, in some embodiments, a first signal is received at afirst stage of a plurality of sequentially coupled stages of a DCDL. Insome embodiments, receiving the first signal at the first stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages includes receiving the firstsignal at an input terminal of the DCDL. In some embodiments, receivingthe first signal at the first stage of the plurality of sequentiallycoupled stages includes receiving signal SI at input terminal IN of oneof DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3.

In various embodiments, receiving the first signal at the first stage ofthe plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes receiving thefirst signal at a tristate inverter or a tunable inverter of the firststage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages. In someembodiments, receiving the first signal at the first stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages includes receiving the firstsignal at inverter V1 of stage 110-1 of DCDL circuit 100 discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 1 or stage 210-1 of DCDL circuit 200 discussedabove with respect to FIG. 2. In some embodiments, receiving the firstsignal at the first stage of the plurality of sequentially coupledstages includes receiving the first signal at tunable inverter V7 ofstage 310-1 of DCDL circuit 300 discussed above with respect to FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, receiving the first signal at the first stage ofthe plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes receiving thefirst signal from an input buffer. In some embodiments, receiving thefirst signal at the first stage of the plurality of sequentially coupledstages includes receiving the first signal from input buffer VBI of oneof DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3.

At operation 620, a second stage of the plurality of sequentiallycoupled stages is selected as a return stage, thereby activating atunable inverter of the second stage as part of a signal delay path ofthe DCDL. For each stage of the plurality of sequentially coupledstages, selecting the second stage includes activating a given tunableinverter in the signal delay path configured to receive a signaltransition having a same polarity as a polarity of a signal transitionof the input signal, the given tunable inverter being the first tunableinverter of the second stage or another activated tunable inverter.

Activating the first tunable inverter of the second stage includesactivating the first tunable inverter coupled between a first signalpath of the signal delay path and a second signal path of the signaldelay path. In various embodiments, activating the first tunableinverter of the second stage includes activating tunable inverter V3coupled between node NI of the selected return stage in signal path PIand node NO of the selected return stage in signal path PO as discussedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-3.

In some embodiments, selecting the second stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages as the return stage includes activating twotristate inverters of the first stage as part of the first signal pathand two tristate inverters of the first stage as part of the secondsignal path, and activating the given tunable inverter includesactivating the first tunable inverter of the second stage. In someembodiments, selecting the second stage of the plurality of sequentiallycoupled stages as the return stage includes activating inverters V1 andV2 of stage 110-1 as part of signal path PI and inverters V4 and V5 ofstage 110-1 as part of signal path PO, and activating the given tunableinverter includes activating tunable inverter V3 of the one of stages110-2 . . . 110-N selected as the return stage, as discussed above withrespect to FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, selecting the second stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages as the return stage includes activating asecond tunable inverter of the second stage coupled in series with thefirst tunable inverter between the first signal path and the secondsignal path, and activating the given tunable inverter includesactivating one of the first tunable inverter or the second tunableinverter. In some embodiments, selecting the second stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages as the return stage includesactivating tunable inverter V6 coupled in series with tunable inverterV3 between signal path PI and signal path PO, and activating the giventunable inverter includes activating one tunable inverter V3 or V6 ofthe one of stages 210-1 . . . 210-N selected as the return stage, asdiscussed above with respect to FIG. 2.

In some embodiments in which receiving the input signal at the firststage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes receivingthe input signal at a tunable inverter of the first stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages in operation 610, selecting thesecond stage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages as thereturn stage includes activating the tunable inverter of the first stageof the plurality of sequentially coupled stages as part of the firstsignal path. In some embodiments in which receiving the input signal atthe first stage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includesreceiving the input signal at a tunable inverter of the first stage ofthe plurality of sequentially coupled stages in operation 610, selectingthe second stage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages as thereturn stage includes activating tunable inverter V7 of stage 310-1 aspart of signal path PI, as discussed above with respect to FIG. 3.

At operation 630, in some embodiments, a second signal is output fromthe first stage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages of theDCDL. Outputting the second signal includes outputting the second signalincluding a transition having a delay time relative to the transition inthe first signal based on the selecting the second stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages in operation 620. In variousembodiments, outputting the second signal including the transitionincludes the transition having a polarity the same as or opposite thepolarity of the transition in the first signal.

In some embodiments, outputting the second signal from the first stageof the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes outputting thesecond signal from an output terminal of the DCDL. In some embodiments,outputting the second signal from the first stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages includes outputting signal SO to outputterminal OUT of one of DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 1-3.

In some embodiments, outputting the second signal from the first stageof the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes outputting thesecond signal from a tristate inverter of the first stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages. In some embodiments,outputting the second signal from the first stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages includes outputting signal SO from inverterV4 of stage 110-1 of DCDL circuit 100 discussed above with respect toFIG. 1. In some embodiments, outputting the second signal from the firststage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includesoutputting signal SO from inverter V5 of stage 210-1 of DCDL circuit 200discussed above with respect to FIG. 2 or stage 310-1 of DCDL circuit300 discussed above with respect to FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, outputting the second signal from the first stageof the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes outputting thesecond signal to an output buffer. In some embodiments, outputting thesecond signal from the first stage of the plurality of sequentiallycoupled stages includes outputting the second signal to output bufferVBO of one of DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above with respect toFIGS. 1-3.

By executing some or all of the operations of method 600, a signal delaytime is controlled by causing each signal path of a DCDL circuitcorresponding to a range of programmable delay times to include atunable delay cell that receives a signal transition having a polaritythe same as that of a signal transition received by the DCDL circuit,thereby obtaining the benefits discussed above with respect to DCDLcircuits 100-300.

FIG. 7 is a representation of DCDL circuit operating parameters, inaccordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7 includes a horizontal axiscorresponding to a number of DCDL stages included in a signal delay pathand a vertical axis corresponding to delay times associated with thenumber of stages.

Each of curves 702, 704, and 706 is based on a circuit simulation andrepresents linearity of the delay times with respect to the number ofstages for a TT process variation case in which both n-type and p-typetransistors have target speed properties. Curve 702 is a non-limitingexample based on DCDL circuit 100 discussed above with respect to FIG.1, curve 704 is a non-limiting example based on DCDL circuit 200discussed above with respect to FIG. 2, and curve 706 represents a DCDLcircuit that does not include, for each signal path within the range ofnumber of stages, a tunable delay cell that receives a signal transitionhaving a polarity the same as that of a signal transition received bythe DCDL circuit.

As depicted in FIG. 7, each of curves 702 and 704 indicates an increasedlinearity compared to curve 706. In some embodiments, for the TT processvariation case, a differential nonlinearity (DNL) of each of curves 702and 704 is reduced from a DNL of curve 706 by greater than a factor ofthree. In some embodiments, based on simulation of fast-slow (FS) andslow-fast (SF) process variation cases, DNL of curves equivalent to 702and 704 is reduced by approximately one half.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams of respective tunable inverters800A and 800B, in accordance with some embodiments. Each of tunableinverters 800A and 800B includes a subset of the elements of tunableinverter 500 discussed above with respect to FIG. 5.

As depicted in FIG. 8A, tunable inverter 800A includes power supply nodeVDD, reference node VSS, complementary transistor pairs PS/NS, p-typetransistors P1-PK, and n-type transistor N1 arranged as discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 5. A gate of each of transistors PS and NS iscoupled to an input terminal 800AI configured to receive an input signal800ASI, and source terminals of transistors P1-PK and N1 are coupled toan output terminal 800AO.

Gates of each of transistors P1-PK and N1 are coupled to control signalbus CTRL and thereby configured to receive and, in operation, respond toa set of control signals SCTRL including control signals SF1-SFK and SF1b in the manner discussed above with respect to FIG. 5. A tuning portion800ATP thereby includes the number K of p-type transistors P1-PK and asingle n-type transistor N1.

In operation, transistors P1-PK and N1 are thereby configured to beswitched off in response to the corresponding control signals SF1-SFKhaving the high voltage level and control signal SF1 b having the lowvoltage level, corresponding to the inactivated state of tunableinverter 500 discussed above with respect to FIG. 5. In response tocontrol signals SF1 and SF1 b having the respective low and high voltagelevels, transistor pair P1/N1 is switched on in operation. In responseto a given one of control signals SF2-SFK having the low voltage level,the corresponding transistor P2-PK is switched on in operation. Varyingcombinations of control signals SF1-SFK having the low voltage level andcontrol signal SF1 b having the high voltage level thereby correspond tothe plurality of activated states discussed above in which tunableinverter 800A is configured to generate output signal 800ASO on outputnode 800AO complementary to input signal 800ASI and having delay timescorresponding to switching speeds of some or all of transistors P1-PKand N1.

As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, delay time control is basedon n-type transistor switching speed when responding to a rising inputsignal transition and based on p-type transistor switching speed whenresponding to a falling input signal transition. Tunable inverter 800Ais thereby configured as a single-sided tunable inverter, also referredto as a single-sided tunable delay cell in some embodiments, in whichthe set of control signals SCTRL is configured to implement a pluralityof programmable delay times corresponding to a falling edge of inputsignal 800ASI, and a single delay time corresponding to a rising edge ofinput signal 800ASI.

As depicted in FIG. 8B, tunable inverter 800B includes power supply nodeVDD, reference node VSS, complementary transistor pairs PS/NS, p-typetransistor P1, and n-type transistors N1-NK arranged as discussed abovewith respect to FIG. 5. A gate of each of transistors PS and NS iscoupled to an input terminal 800BI configured to receive an input signal800BSI, and source terminals of transistors P1 and N1-NK are coupled toan output terminal 800BO.

Gates of each of transistors P1 and N1-NK are coupled to control signalbus CTRL and thereby configured to receive and, in operation, respond toa set of control signals SCTRL including control signals SF1 and SF1b-SFKb in the manner discussed above with respect to FIG. 5. A tuningportion 800BTP thereby includes a single p-type transistor P1 and thenumber K of n-type transistors N1-NK.

In operation, transistors P1 and N1-NK are thereby configured to beswitched off in response to control signal SF1 having the high voltagelevel and the corresponding control signals SF1 b-SFKb having the lowvoltage level, corresponding to the inactivated state of tunableinverter 500 discussed above with respect to FIG. 5. In response tocontrol signals SF1 and SF1 b having the respective low and high voltagelevels, transistor pair P1/N1 is switched on in operation. In responseto a given one of control signals SF2 b-SFKb having the high voltagelevel, the corresponding transistor N2-NK is switched on in operation.Control signal SF1 having the low voltage level and varying combinationsof control signals SF1 b-SFKb having the high voltage level therebycorrespond to the plurality of activated states discussed above in whichtunable inverter 800B is configured to generate output signal 800BSO onoutput node 800BO complementary to input signal 800BSI and having delaytimes corresponding to switching speeds of some or all of transistors P1and N1-NK.

Tunable inverter 800B is thereby configured as a single-sided tunableinverter, also referred to as a single-sided tunable delay cell in someembodiments, in which the set of control signals SCTRL is configured toimplement a plurality of programmable delay times corresponding to arising edge of input signal 800BSI, and a single delay timecorresponding to a falling edge of input signal 800BSI.

A DCDL circuit 100-300 including one or more of tunable inverters 800Aor 800B as discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3 is thereby capablegenerating a total delay time including the plurality of delay times ofthe corresponding tunable inverter 800A or 800B having the benefitsdiscussed above with respect to DCDL circuits 100-300.

Further, a DCDL circuit, e.g., one of DCDL circuits discussed below withrespect to FIGS. 9A-9D, including one or more of single-sided tunabledelay cells 800A or 800B configured to implement programmable delaytimes for corresponding falling or rising input signal transitions usesfewer transistors than approaches in which tunable delay cells areconfigured to implement programmable delay times for both rising andfalling signal transitions, thereby reducing circuit size, complexity,and process variation effects.

FIGS. 9A-9D are schematic diagrams of respective DCDL circuits900A-900D, in accordance with some embodiments. Each of DCDL circuits900A-900D includes one or both of tunable inverters 800A or 800Bdiscussed above with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B, as further discussedbelow.

DCDL circuit 900A corresponds to DCDL circuit 100, discussed above withrespect to FIG. 1, in which stages 110-1 . . . 110-N are replaced bystages 910A-1 . . . 910A-N including one of tunable inverters 800A or800B instead of tunable inverter V3. In various embodiments, each ofstages 910A-1 . . . 910A-N includes either tunable inverter 800Aconfigured to have a plurality of delay times corresponding to a fallingtransition in a corresponding input signal, or tunable inverter 800Bconfigured to have a plurality of delay times corresponding to a risingtransition in a corresponding input signal.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9A, each of stages 910A-1 . . .910A-N includes one of tunable inverter 800A or 800B. In variousembodiments, one or more of stages 910A-1 . . . 910A-N includes one oftunable inverter 800A or 800B and one or more of stages 910A-1 . . .910A-N includes tunable inverter V3.

DCDL circuit 900B corresponds to DCDL circuit 200, discussed above withrespect to FIG. 2, in which stages 210-1 . . . 210-N are replaced bystages 910B-1 . . . 910B-N including one each of tunable inverters 800Aand 800B instead of tunable inverters V3 and V6. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 9B, each odd numbered stage 910B-1-910B-N includestunable inverter 800A configured to have a plurality of delay timescorresponding to a falling transition in a corresponding input signal onnode NI and tunable inverter 800B configured to have a plurality ofdelay times corresponding to a rising transition in a correspondinginput signal on node NS, and each even numbered stage 910B-1-910B-Nincludes tunable inverter 800B configured to have a plurality of delaytimes corresponding to a rising transition in a corresponding inputsignal on node NI and tunable inverter 800A configured to have aplurality of delay times corresponding to a falling transition in acorresponding input signal on node NS. In some embodiments, DCDL circuit900B includes a complementary configuration of tunable inverters 800Aand 800B.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9B, each of stages 910B-1 . . .910B-N includes each of tunable inverters 800A and 800B. In variousembodiments, stages 910B-1 . . . 910B-N include combinations of tunableinverters 800A, 800B, V3 and V6 other than those depicted in FIG. 9Bsuch that at least one of stages 910B-1 . . . 910B-N includes a tunableinverter 800A or 800B configured as discussed above.

DCDL circuit 900C corresponds to DCDL circuit 300, discussed above withrespect to FIG. 3, in which stages 310-1 . . . 310-N are replaced bystages 910C-1 . . . 910C-N including two each of either tunable inverter800A or tunable inverter 800B instead of tunable inverters V3 and V7. Inthe embodiment depicted in FIG. 9C, each odd numbered stage910C-1-910C-N includes two instances of tunable inverter 800A configuredto have a plurality of delay times corresponding to a falling transitionin a corresponding input signal on node NI, and each even numbered stage910C-1-910C-N includes two instances of tunable inverter 800C configuredto have a plurality of delay times corresponding to a rising transitionin a corresponding input signal on node NI. In some embodiments, DCDLcircuit 900C includes a complementary configuration of tunable inverters800A and 800B.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9C, each of stages 910C-1 . . .910C-N includes two each of either tunable inverter 800A or tunableinverter 800B. In various embodiments, stages 910C-1 . . . 910C-Ninclude combinations of tunable inverters 800A, 800B, V3 and V7 otherthan those depicted in FIG. 9C such that at least one of stages 910C-1 .. . 910C-N includes a tunable inverter 800A or 800B configured asdiscussed above.

DCDL circuit 900D is a DCDL including input terminal IN, output terminalOUT, signal paths PI and PO, control circuit 120, and control signal busCTRL, each discussed above with respect to FIG. 1. Instead of stages110-1 . . . 110-N, DCDL 900D includes stages 910D-1 . . . 910D-Nincluding inverters V1 and V5 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1 andone each of either tunable inverters 800A or 800B. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 9D, each odd numbered stage 910D-1-910D-N includestunable inverter 800A configured to have a plurality of delay timescorresponding to a falling transition in a corresponding input signal onnode NI, and each even numbered stage 910D-1-910D-N includes tunableinverter 800B configured to have a plurality of delay timescorresponding to a rising transition in a corresponding input signal onnode NI. In some embodiments, DCDL circuit 900D includes a complementaryconfiguration of tunable inverters 800A and 800B.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9D, each of stages 910D-1 . . .910D-N includes one of tunable inverter 800A or 800B. In variousembodiments, one or more of stages 910D-1 . . . 910D-N includes one oftunable inverter 800A or 800B and one or more of stages 910D-1 . . .910D-N instead includes another tunable inverter, e.g., tunable inverterV3 discussed above with respect to FIG. 1.

By including at least one of either tunable inverter 800A or tunableinverter 800B, each of DCDL circuits 900A-900D is configured toimplement programmable delay times for corresponding falling or risinginput signal transitions using fewer transistors than approaches inwhich tunable delay cells are configured to implement programmable delaytimes for both rising and falling signal transitions, thereby realizingthe benefits discussed above with respect to tunable inverters 800A and800B.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method 1000 of controlling a signal delay,in accordance with some embodiments. Method 1000 is usable with a DCDLcircuit, e.g., a DCDL circuit 100-300 discussed above with respect toFIGS. 1-3, or a DCDL circuit 900A-900D discussed above with respect toFIGS. 9A-9D.

The sequence in which the operations of method 1000 are depicted in FIG.10 is for illustration only; the operations of method 1000 are capableof being executed in sequences that differ from that depicted in FIG.10. In some embodiments, operations in addition to those depicted inFIG. 10 are performed before, between, during, and/or after theoperations depicted in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the operations ofmethod 1000 are part of operating a circuit, e.g., DLL circuit 1100discussed below with respect to FIG. 11.

At operation 1010, in some embodiments, a first signal is received at aninput terminal of a DCDL. In some embodiments, receiving the firstsignal at the input terminal of the DCDL includes receiving signal SI atinput terminal IN of one of DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 1-3 or DCDL circuits 900A-900D discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 9A-9D.

In some embodiments, receiving the first signal at the input terminal ofthe DCDL includes receiving the first signal at an input buffer. In someembodiments, receiving the first signal at the input terminal of theDCDL includes receiving the first signal at input buffer VBI of one ofDCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above with respect to FIGS. 1-3 or DCDLcircuits 900A-900D discussed above with respect to FIGS. 9A-9D.

At operation 1020, a stage of a plurality of stages of the DCDL isselected as a return stage, thereby activating a tunable inverter of theselected stage coupled between an input path and an output path, thetunable inverter including a number of p-type transistors different froma number of n-type transistors.

In some embodiments, activating the tunable inverter including thenumber of p-type transistors different from the number of n-typetransistors includes activating tunable inverter 800A including thenumber K of p-type transistors P1-PK and a single n-type transistor N1as discussed above with respect to FIG. 8A. In some embodiments,activating the tunable inverter including the number of p-typetransistors different from the number of n-type transistors includesactivating tunable inverter 800B including a single p-type transistor P1and the number K of n-type transistors N1-NK as discussed above withrespect to FIG. 8B.

In some embodiments, activating the tunable inverter including thenumber of p-type transistors different from the number of n-typetransistors includes activating different numbers of p-type and n-typetransistors. In various embodiments, activating different numbers ofp-type and n-type transistors includes activating some or all oftransistors P1-PK and transistor N1 of tunable inverter 800A discussedabove with respect to FIG. 8A or activating transistor P1 and some orall of transistors N1-NK of tunable inverter 800B discussed above withrespect to FIG. 8B.

In various embodiments, selecting a stage of a plurality of stages ofthe DCDL includes selecting one of stages 110-1 . . . 110-N discussedabove with respect to FIG. 1, one of stages 210-1 . . . 210-N discussedabove with respect to FIG. 2, one of stages 310-1 . . . 310-N discussedabove with respect to FIG. 3, one of stages 910A-1 . . . 910A-Ndiscussed above with respect to FIG. 9A, one of stages 910B-1 . . .910B-N discussed above with respect to FIG. 9B, one of stages 910C-1 . .. 910C-N discussed above with respect to FIG. 9C, or one of stages910D-1 . . . 910D-N discussed above with respect to FIG. 9D.

At operation 1030, in some embodiments, a second signal is output to anoutput terminal of the DCDL. In some embodiments, outputting the secondsignal to the output terminal of the DCDL includes outputting signal SOto output terminal OUT of one of DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed abovewith respect to FIGS. 1-3 or DCDL circuits 900A-900D discussed abovewith respect to FIGS. 9A-9D.

In some embodiments, outputting the second signal to the output terminalof the DCDL includes outputting the second signal from an output buffer.In some embodiments, outputting the second signal to the output terminalof the DCDL includes outputting the second signal from output buffer VBIof one of DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above with respect to FIGS.1-3 or DCDL circuits 900A-900D discussed above with respect to FIGS.9A-9D.

By executing some or all of the operations of method 1000, programmabledelay times are implemented for corresponding falling or rising inputsignal transitions using fewer transistors than approaches in whichtunable delay cells are configured to implement programmable delay timesfor both rising and falling signal transitions, thereby realizing thebenefits discussed above with respect to tunable inverters 800A and800B.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of DLL circuit 1100, in accordance withsome embodiments. DLL circuit 1100 includes a phase detector 1110, a lowpass filter 1120, and a DCDL circuit 1130. Phase detector 1110 includesinput terminals (not labeled) configured to receive a reference clocksignal CLKR and a system clock signal CLKS, and an output terminal (notlabeled) coupled to an input terminal (not labeled) of low pass filter1120. DCDL circuit 1130 includes an input terminal (not labeled) coupledto an output terminal (not labeled) of low pass filter 1120, and anoutput terminal (not labeled) configured to output system clock signalCLKS.

Phase detector 1110 is an electronic circuit configured to detect aphase difference between reference clock signal CLKR and system clocksignal CLKS, and output a voltage level indicative of the detected phasedifference.

Low pass filter 1120 is an electronic circuit configured to pass thevoltage level from phase detector 1110 to DCDL 1130 while attenuatingalternating current (AC) signal components.

DCDL circuit 1130 is one of DCDL circuits 100-300 discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 1-3 or DCDL circuits 900A-900D discussed above withrespect to FIGS. 9A-9D including control circuit 120 configured to causeDCDL circuit 1130 to generate system clock signal CLKS by implementing aprogrammable delay time based on the voltage level received from lowpass filter 1120.

DLL circuit 1100 is thereby configured to generate system clock signalCLKS having a phase synchronized to a phase of reference clock signalCLKR.

By including one of DCDL circuits 100-300 or 900A-900B, DLL circuit 1100is capable of synchronizing clock signals CLKR and CLKS based on delaytimes generated in accordance with the embodiments discussed above, andthereby realizes the benefits discussed above with respect to DCDLcircuits 100-300 and 900A-900D.

In some embodiments, a DCDL includes an input terminal, an outputterminal, and a plurality of stages configured to propagate a signalalong a first signal path from the input terminal to a selectable returnstage of the plurality of stages, and along a second signal path fromthe return stage of the plurality of stages to the output terminal. Eachstage of the plurality of stages includes first and second invertersconfigured to selectively propagate the signal along the first signalpath, third and fourth inverters configured to selectively propagate thesignal along the second signal path, and a fifth inverter configured toselectively propagate the signal from the first signal path to thesecond signal path. In some embodiments, the fifth inverter is coupledto the first signal path between the input terminal and the first andsecond inverters, and coupled to the second signal path between theoutput terminal and the third and fourth inverters. In some embodiments,each of the first through fourth inverters includes a tristate inverter.In some embodiments, each of the first through fourth inverters isconfigured to receive a same pair of complementary control signals. Insome embodiments, the fifth inverter has a tunable selectionconfiguration corresponding to greater than three output states. In someembodiments, the fifth inverter includes a first p-type transistor and afirst n-type transistor, each of the first p-type transistor and thefirst n-type transistor including a gate configured to receive thesignal, and a tuning portion coupled between the first p-type transistorand the first n-type transistor, the tuning portion including twoindependently controllable transistors configured in parallel and beinga same one of the p-type or the n-type. In some embodiments, the tuningportion further includes a third transistor coupled in series with thetwo transistors and being the other of the p-type or the n-type, whereinthe third transistor is the sole transistor of the other of the p-typeor the n-type in the tuning portion. In some embodiments, the DCDL isincluded in a delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit.

In some embodiments, a DCDL includes an input terminal, an outputterminal, and a plurality of stages configured to propagate a signalalong a first signal path from the input terminal to a selectable returnstage of the plurality of stages, and along a second signal path fromthe return stage of the plurality of stages to the output terminal. Eachstage of the plurality of stages includes a first inverter configured toselectively propagate the signal along the first signal path, a secondinverter configured to selectively propagate the signal along the secondsignal path, and third and fourth inverters coupled in series andconfigured to selectively propagate the signal from the first signalpath to the second signal path. In some embodiments, the third inverteris coupled to the first signal path between the input terminal and thefirst inverter, and the fourth inverter is coupled to the second signalpath between the output terminal and the second inverter. In someembodiments, each of the first and second inverters includes a tristateinverter. In some embodiments, each of the third and fourth invertershas a tunable selection configuration corresponding to greater thanthree output states. In some embodiments, each of the third and fourthinverters includes a first p-type transistor and a first n-typetransistor, each of the first p-type transistor and the first n-typetransistor including a gate configured to receive the signal, and atuning portion coupled between the first p-type transistor and the firstn-type transistor, the tuning portion including a plurality ofindependently controllable p-type transistors configured in parallel,and a plurality of independently controllable n-type transistorsconfigured in parallel, wherein the plurality of independentlycontrollable p-type transistors is coupled in series with the pluralityof independently controllable n-type transistors. In some embodiments,the third and fourth inverters are configured to receive a same set ofcontrol signals. In some embodiments, the DCDL further includes a fifthinverter coupled between the plurality of stages and one of the inputterminal or the output terminal.

In some embodiments, a method of controlling a signal delay timeincludes receiving an input signal at a first stage of a plurality ofsequentially coupled stages of a DCDL, and selecting a second stage ofthe plurality of sequentially coupled stages as a return stage, therebyactivating a first tunable inverter of the second stage as part of asignal delay path of the DCDL. For each stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages, the selecting the second stage as thereturn stage includes activating a given tunable inverter in the signaldelay path configured to receive a signal transition having a samepolarity as a polarity of a signal transition of the input signal, thegiven tunable inverter being the first tunable inverter of the secondstage or another activated tunable inverter. In some embodiments,activating the first tunable inverter of the second stage includesactivating the first tunable inverter coupled between a first signalpath of the signal delay path and a second signal path of the signaldelay path. In some embodiments, selecting the second stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages as the return stage includesactivating two tristate inverters of the first stage as part of thefirst signal path and two tristate inverters of the first stage as partof the second signal path, and activating the given tunable inverterincludes activating the first tunable inverter of the second stage. Insome embodiments, selecting the second stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages as the return stage includes activating asecond tunable inverter of the second stage coupled in series with thefirst tunable inverter between the first signal path and the secondsignal path, and activating the given tunable inverter includesactivating one of the first tunable inverter or the second tunableinverter. In some embodiments, receiving the input signal at the firststage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages includes receivingthe input signal at a second tunable inverter of the first stage of theplurality of sequentially coupled stages, and selecting the second stageof the plurality of sequentially coupled stages as the return stageincludes activating the second tunable inverter of the first stage ofthe plurality of sequentially coupled stages as part of the first signalpath.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digitally controlled delay line (DCDL)comprising: an input terminal; an output terminal; and a plurality ofstages configured to propagate a signal along a first signal path fromthe input terminal to a selectable return stage of the plurality ofstages, and along a second signal path from the return stage of theplurality of stages to the output terminal, each stage of the pluralityof stages comprising: first and second inverters configured toselectively propagate the signal along the first signal path; third andfourth inverters configured to selectively propagate the signal alongthe second signal path; and a fifth inverter configured to selectivelypropagate the signal from the first signal path to the second signalpath.
 2. The DCDL of claim 1, wherein the fifth inverter is coupled tothe first signal path between the input terminal and the first andsecond inverters, and coupled to the second signal path between theoutput terminal and the third and fourth inverters.
 3. The DCDL of claim1, wherein each of the first through fourth inverters comprises atristate inverter.
 4. The DCDL of claim 1, wherein each of the firstthrough fourth inverters is configured to receive a same pair ofcomplementary control signals.
 5. The DCDL of claim 1, wherein the fifthinverter has a tunable selection configuration corresponding to greaterthan three output states.
 6. The DCDL of claim 5, wherein the fifthinverter comprises: a first p-type transistor and a first n-typetransistor, each of the first p-type transistor and the first n-typetransistor comprising a gate configured to receive the signal; and atuning portion coupled between the first p-type transistor and the firstn-type transistor, the tuning portion comprising two independentlycontrollable transistors configured in parallel and being a same one ofthe p-type or the n-type.
 7. The DCDL of claim 6, wherein the tuningportion further comprises a third transistor coupled in series with thetwo transistors and being the other of the p-type or the n-type, whereinthe third transistor is the sole transistor of the other of the p-typeor the n-type in the tuning portion.
 8. The DCDL of claim 1, wherein theDCDL is included in a delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit.
 9. A digitallycontrolled delay line (DCDL) comprising: an input terminal; an outputterminal; and a plurality of stages configured to propagate a signalalong a first signal path from the input terminal to a selectable returnstage of the plurality of stages, and along a second signal path fromthe return stage of the plurality of stages to the output terminal, eachstage of the plurality of stages comprising: a first inverter configuredto selectively propagate the signal along the first signal path; asecond inverter configured to selectively propagate the signal along thesecond signal path; and third and fourth inverters coupled in series andconfigured to selectively propagate the signal from the first signalpath to the second signal path.
 10. The DCDL of claim 9, wherein thethird inverter is coupled to the first signal path between the inputterminal and the first inverter, and the fourth inverter is coupled tothe second signal path between the output terminal and the secondinverter.
 11. The DCDL of claim 9, wherein each of the first and secondinverters comprises a tristate inverter.
 12. The DCDL of claim 9,wherein each of the third and fourth inverters has a tunable selectionconfiguration corresponding to greater than three output states.
 13. TheDCDL of claim 12, wherein each of the third and fourth inverterscomprises: a first p-type transistor and a first n-type transistor, eachof the first p-type transistor and the first n-type transistorcomprising a gate configured to receive the signal; and a tuning portioncoupled between the first p-type transistor and the first n-typetransistor, the tuning portion comprising: a plurality of independentlycontrollable p-type transistors configured in parallel; and a pluralityof independently controllable n-type transistors configured in parallel,wherein the plurality of independently controllable p-type transistorsis coupled in series with the plurality of independently controllablen-type transistors.
 14. The DCDL of claim 12, wherein the third andfourth inverters are configured to receive a same set of controlsignals.
 15. The DCDL of claim 9, further comprising a fifth invertercoupled between the plurality of stages and one of the input terminal orthe output terminal.
 16. A method of controlling a signal delay time,the method comprising: receiving an input signal at a first stage of aplurality of sequentially coupled stages of a digitally controlled delayline (DCDL); and selecting a second stage of the plurality ofsequentially coupled stages as a return stage, thereby activating afirst tunable inverter of the second stage coupled between a firstsignal path of a signal delay path of the DCDL and a second signal pathof the signal delay path of the DCDL, wherein the selecting the secondstage of the plurality of sequentially coupled stages as the returnstage comprises one of: activating two tristate inverters of the firststage as part of the first signal path and two tristate inverters of thefirst stage as part of the second signal path; or activating a secondtunable inverter of the second stage coupled in series with the firsttunable inverter between the first signal path and the second signalpath.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the activating the twotristate inverters of the first stage as part of the first signal pathand the two tristate inverters of the first stage as part of the secondsignal path comprises each of the two tristate inverters of the firstsignal path and the two tristate inverters of the second signal pathreceiving a same pair of complementary control signals.
 18. The methodof claim 16, wherein the activating the first tunable inverter of thesecond stage comprises activating a tuning portion comprising: twoindependently controllable transistors configured in parallel and beinga same one of a p-type or an n-type; and a third transistor coupled inseries with the two transistors and being the other of the p-type or then-type, the third transistor being the sole transistor of the other ofthe p-type or the n-type in the tuning portion.
 19. The method of claim16, wherein the activating the first and second tunable inverters of thesecond stage comprises each of the first and second tunable invertersreceiving a same set of control signals.
 20. The method of claim 16,wherein the activating the first tunable inverter of the second stagecomprises activating a first tuning portion comprising two independentlycontrollable p-type transistors configured in parallel and a thirdn-type transistor coupled in series with the two p-type transistors, thethird n-type transistor being the sole n-type transistor in the firsttuning portion, and the activating the second tunable inverter of thesecond stage comprises activating a second tuning portion comprising twoindependently controllable n-type transistors configured in parallel anda third p-type transistor coupled in series with the two n-typetransistors, the third p-type transistor being the sole p-typetransistor in the second tuning portion.